tinysands
2007-04-18, 12:50 PM
Ejecting Spurs' Duncan costs Crawford
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041807.01C.BKNspurs.crawford.34e1798.html
Web Posted: 04/17/2007 10:46 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Two days after ejecting Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan), veteran NBA official Joey Crawford received his own benching when the league handed him an indefinite suspension that could lead to his retirement.
NBA commissioner David Stern announced the punishment in a statement early Tuesday afternoon, saying Crawford "failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees" when he ejected Duncan during the Spurs' loss Sunday in Dallas.
Duncan, who accused Crawford of having a "personal vendetta" against him, was fined $25,000 for cursing the referee after the ejection.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had Tuesday off, and Duncan was unavailable to comment. Team officials also declined to comment publicly but had expected Duncan to be fined.
Two Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) officials, however, privately said they were "stunned" by the severity of Crawford's suspension and wondered whether the team would experience any repercussions from other referees.
The announcement came as the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) prepare to open the playoffs Sunday against Denver. The teams also meet tonight at the AT&T Center.
Duncan, who isn't expected to play tonight, was ejected late in the third quarter of Sunday's game as he was sitting on the Spurs' bench.
Crawford issued Duncan an initial technical foul for complaining to another official about a call against teammate Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili). When Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) center Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) also was called for a foul a little more than a minute later, Duncan began laughing and briefly put a towel over his head.
Crawford gave him another technical and told him to leave.
Crawford told Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich that Duncan was making a "mockery" of the officials. When Popovich told Crawford that sounded like a personal complaint, Crawford replied, "It is. It's personal to all three of us," gesturing to the other two referees.
Duncan also said Crawford had earlier asked him if he wanted to fight. Stern was upset by what he termed "inappropriate comments" and said the second technical and ejection weren't warranted.
"Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees," Stern said in the statement, "he must be held accountable for his actions."
The suspension will last at least through the playoffs. Stern said in the statement he planned to meet with Crawford after the season but later told ESPN he wouldn't be surprised if Crawford retired.
"In fairness, I would say he doesn't think he did anything wrong," Stern said, "and probably doesn't wish to work in the NBA anymore."
Crawford reportedly told Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president, he would again eject Duncan if the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward acted as he did Sunday. "So if my employer does not think that is acceptable," Crawford wrote in an e-mail to his fellow officials obtained by Bloomberg News Service, "then I have a problem."
The National Basketball Referees Association, which represents the officials in negotiations with the league, didn't respond to an interview request.
The NBRA complained last season about the increasing verbal abuse aimed at referees by players and coaches. Stern responded by telling players the officials would be less tolerant toward complaints, and a flurry of technicals followed in the season's opening weeks.
Chided by opposing coaches and players for his complaining, Duncan was told by Popovich early this season he could help the team by worrying less about the officiating. But Popovich also acknowledged Duncan has grown more frustrated as the NBA has altered its rules to make it easier for perimeter players to draw fouls while not affording the same benefit to post players.
"Timmy's played through a lot," Popovich said Monday. "I think the big guys who are threats down low really have to show a lot of patience in curbing any frustration that might build. That's got to be tough night after night."
Stern had previously warned Crawford about his actions. In Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals between the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and Dallas, Crawford issued four technicals in the first quarter and ejected then-Mavericks coach Don Nelson for not going back to the bench.
Stern, according to league officials with knowledge of the ensuing meeting, was incensed and told Crawford, a veteran of 31 seasons and 38 Finals games, to control his temper or risk suspension.
"He's just the type of person who's only going to take so much," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) said of Crawford. "Pretty much all refs should be like that to keep guys in line.
"I think everybody has their bad moments. The only thing we hope is you chalk it up as a bad day, and don't hold a grudge. Just move on."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041807.01C.BKNspurs.crawford.34e1798.html
Web Posted: 04/17/2007 10:46 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Two days after ejecting Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan), veteran NBA official Joey Crawford received his own benching when the league handed him an indefinite suspension that could lead to his retirement.
NBA commissioner David Stern announced the punishment in a statement early Tuesday afternoon, saying Crawford "failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees" when he ejected Duncan during the Spurs' loss Sunday in Dallas.
Duncan, who accused Crawford of having a "personal vendetta" against him, was fined $25,000 for cursing the referee after the ejection.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had Tuesday off, and Duncan was unavailable to comment. Team officials also declined to comment publicly but had expected Duncan to be fined.
Two Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) officials, however, privately said they were "stunned" by the severity of Crawford's suspension and wondered whether the team would experience any repercussions from other referees.
The announcement came as the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) prepare to open the playoffs Sunday against Denver. The teams also meet tonight at the AT&T Center.
Duncan, who isn't expected to play tonight, was ejected late in the third quarter of Sunday's game as he was sitting on the Spurs' bench.
Crawford issued Duncan an initial technical foul for complaining to another official about a call against teammate Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili). When Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) center Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) also was called for a foul a little more than a minute later, Duncan began laughing and briefly put a towel over his head.
Crawford gave him another technical and told him to leave.
Crawford told Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich that Duncan was making a "mockery" of the officials. When Popovich told Crawford that sounded like a personal complaint, Crawford replied, "It is. It's personal to all three of us," gesturing to the other two referees.
Duncan also said Crawford had earlier asked him if he wanted to fight. Stern was upset by what he termed "inappropriate comments" and said the second technical and ejection weren't warranted.
"Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees," Stern said in the statement, "he must be held accountable for his actions."
The suspension will last at least through the playoffs. Stern said in the statement he planned to meet with Crawford after the season but later told ESPN he wouldn't be surprised if Crawford retired.
"In fairness, I would say he doesn't think he did anything wrong," Stern said, "and probably doesn't wish to work in the NBA anymore."
Crawford reportedly told Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president, he would again eject Duncan if the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward acted as he did Sunday. "So if my employer does not think that is acceptable," Crawford wrote in an e-mail to his fellow officials obtained by Bloomberg News Service, "then I have a problem."
The National Basketball Referees Association, which represents the officials in negotiations with the league, didn't respond to an interview request.
The NBRA complained last season about the increasing verbal abuse aimed at referees by players and coaches. Stern responded by telling players the officials would be less tolerant toward complaints, and a flurry of technicals followed in the season's opening weeks.
Chided by opposing coaches and players for his complaining, Duncan was told by Popovich early this season he could help the team by worrying less about the officiating. But Popovich also acknowledged Duncan has grown more frustrated as the NBA has altered its rules to make it easier for perimeter players to draw fouls while not affording the same benefit to post players.
"Timmy's played through a lot," Popovich said Monday. "I think the big guys who are threats down low really have to show a lot of patience in curbing any frustration that might build. That's got to be tough night after night."
Stern had previously warned Crawford about his actions. In Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals between the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and Dallas, Crawford issued four technicals in the first quarter and ejected then-Mavericks coach Don Nelson for not going back to the bench.
Stern, according to league officials with knowledge of the ensuing meeting, was incensed and told Crawford, a veteran of 31 seasons and 38 Finals games, to control his temper or risk suspension.
"He's just the type of person who's only going to take so much," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) forward Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) said of Crawford. "Pretty much all refs should be like that to keep guys in line.
"I think everybody has their bad moments. The only thing we hope is you chalk it up as a bad day, and don't hold a grudge. Just move on."